LEWES, Del. — On Saturday August 10, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market celebrates its favorite fruit. The Market will be open at George H.P. Smith Park, at Johnson and Dupont Avenues, from 8 til noon. This Saturday it’s all about THE TOMATO, as the HLFM and patrons celebrate National Farmers Market Week, August 4-10.
Customers are urged to bring their friends, their children, house guests, or just themselves to the Tomato Festival, and to wear red or their favorite tomato costume. Here’s what’s happening at the Festival:
- HLFM vendors will have an extraordinary array of delicious local tomatoes just picked and ready for the table. The bumper crop of tomatoes is offered in addition to a multitude of other fresh, local fruits and vegetables, baked goods, grass-fed meats and poultry, and locally-produced farm products. There will also be tomato pies, sun-dried tomato bagels, tomato jams and chutney, tomato breads, and other tomato-based offerings.
- Thirteen of the best local chefs have partnered with thirteen farmers at the Market to create mouth-watering bite-size dishes to celebrate the day. From 9:30 to 11:00 am, samples will be available at the thirteen farmers’ tables next to their tents. Customers can then stock up on the tomato varieties that have actually been used in the recipes. Customers should note that tastings will will not be available until 9:30 am due to set-up.
- Guess the number of tomatoes in the jar from 9 to 11 am! New this year—both Adult Guess Jar and Children’s Guess Jar. The “Big Kids” adult winner will receive Jose Andres’ wonderful new cookbook Vegetables Unleashed. The “Little Kids” winner will receive a $20 gift certificate to the Kid’s Ketch toy store in Lewes. Winners will be announced at the HLFM Info Table at 11:15 am.
For young tomato lovers:
- Our friends from the Lewes Public Library will be reading I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child during the Children’s Story Time starting at 9 am under the yellow tent near the playground.
- Face painting and temporary rub-on tattoos for kids from 9 to 11am next to the Children’s Tent.
Parking for this event is at the Shields Elementary and Lewes School parking lots. The circle in front of the Fred Thomas Building will be closed except for drop-offs.
It’s busy at the Market in July and August, and always good to have fewer cars on the road, so it’s great for all who are able to bike or walk to the Market. In this spirit, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market continues the tradition of giving away a bicycle in their free Annual Bike Raffle. This year the official HLFM bicycle is a Jamis Earth Cruiser 2 in Plum Purple! This bike is built to be a lighter-weight cruiser. The cruise-control handlebars were designed to promote a comfortable no-weight-on-the-wrists riding position. It also has a cushy seat, smooth rolling tires, and no-slip pedals. There is a black basket that can easily be removed to use at the Market, and a bell that rings like an old ding-dong doorbell to announce one’s arrival. Tickets for the raffle are free, and the winner is drawn on Labor Day Weekend. In order to enter the contest, customers need to fill out a ticket at the HLFM Information Tent. One can enter every Saturday, so Market regulars have a better chance of winning. This beautiful cruiser was purchased locally at Seagreen Bicycle, a local bike shop at 209 Monroe Avenue, Lewes, DE.
The Market continues its SNAP (EBT Food Stamps) program. To help lower economic barriers to local, healthy food, the HLFM matches up to $20 each participant each week with HLFM Bonus Bucks SNAP participants are encouraged to come to the SNAP tent at the Market to pick up the bonus $20 in tokens to use at the Market.
The Market is open every Saturday from 8 am to noon. Customers are urged to park at the Lewes and Shields School parking lots, just off the corner of Savannah Road and Sussex Drive —a short walk from the Market. This is the best place to park to go to the Market. The Market provides a Veggie Valet service to help customers carry bags and melons back to their cars. This service is located at the HLFM Information Tent.
In case of inclement weather, the Market moves to Shields Elementary School Parking lot.
Customers should not forget the HLFM Wednesday Market at Crooked Hammock Brewery, Kings Highway and Crooked Hammock Way, Lewes, DE, from 8 am to 11 am.
More information about the Market is available at www/historiclewesfarmersmarket.org. Find them also on Facebook. Questions? info@historiclewesfarmersmarket.org or call 302-644-1436. To receive the HLFM newsletter, please email them at info@historiclewesfarmersmarket.org to be added to the HLFM list.
–Historic Lewes Farmers Market